Last week, Mercury was definitely retrograde ;-) It's so much easier knowing when things like this are going on, I just don't get upset about confusions, misunderstandings or delays of any kind anymore.

This week's headline items: Mercury's station begins on Wednesday (it comes to a halt on Friday, late in the morning); Pluto's station ends on Thursday; the Balsamic Moon phase begins on Thursday night; and Venus changes signs from Leo to Virgo on Thursday afternoon.

There will also be three Moon VoC phases this week, all of them quite long ones: Monday morning (for 21.5 hours), Wednesday afternoon (for 22.5 hours), and Friday evening (for 34.5 hours).

Monday: the Moon remains in protective, introverted Cancer all day. It will journey there until Tuesday early morning. With this Moon placement, we are more sensitive to what people say to (and about) us, so be kind to yourself and others. Emotional safety is important to us at this time: We like connecting to the familiar, home or family becomes our sanctuary.

Nurture yourself and others, but remember: Make sure your glass is filled before letting others drink from it — otherwise we might start resenting others for draining our energies.

Monday at 7:04am EDT, we enter a 21.5-hour Moon void of course (VoC) which last until 4:31am EDT (Tuesday very early morning). We may experience a pull from two poles: one the one hand, a need to break the rules and make a move towards our future visions, versus a focus on our inner world -- and a desire for safety and connecting to others on an emotional level.

Use this intuitive time to make adjustments and find creative solutions, when it comes to this polarity. As always during VoC, take it easy -- go with the flow and avoid starting anything brand-new.

Tuesday at 4:31am EDT, the Moon moves into fun and attention-loving Leo, where it will journey until Thursday afternoon. We have a chance to appreciate ourselves and our lives -- and to connect to the heart. Hand out as many compliments as possible, they will be deeply appreciated :-)

Fun, games and romance are a big part of this energy. You might also enjoy spending time with little ones. What are you most grateful for today? What would be heaps of fun? What would be so much fun, you squeak just thinking about it?

Tuesday late morning, a challenging Sun/Pluto aspectbecomes exact at 10:14am EDT. We started to feel this aspect from last Saturday evening on; it will be strong until this Friday evening. What we identify ourselves with could now be challenged. This aspect forces us to confront our will, power, assertion, and authority.

Coming into focus now: the relationship with a father- or other important male-figures. We may face the need to be more independent, assertive, and autonomous.

We may alienate others with a controlling, jealous, or overbearing manner. This manner stems from a deep fear of letting go and surrendering to the idea that some things cannot be directed or controlled. We are learning to detach from (let go of) something or someone that no longer serves us -- the "something" could include attitudes.

This fear may lead us to compulsive, suspicious, or difficult behavior, costing us the very thing that we hold dear. As best as you can, open yourself up to the power of love within. When you do, you will discover your own strength, and rework your very identity. Perhaps most importantly, this aspect puts us face to face with exactly what's been holding us back from leading a fuller, more meaningful life.

We may have to make some changes or adjustments with our long-term goals or within our relationships. As best as you can, be open to receiving feedback from others during this time.

If you feel pressured into doing something or you feel a power struggle build, as best as you can, get centered, get grounded and use your creativity to find win/win situations. This aspect is a major growth opportunity for us: we struggle with buried elements of our personality and ego, learning to face, accept and transform them.

Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in 10-16 degrees of Libra, Capricorn, Aries or Cancer? If so, you will be more affected by this aspect.This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Leo or Scorpio (the Sun is the ruler of Leo; Pluto rules Scorpio)

Tuesday evening, an opportune Mercury/Saturn aspect becomes exact at 6:58pm EDT. We started to feel this aspect last Saturday evening on; it will be strong until next week Friday (Oct.16th). Due to Mercury’s retrograde phase, this is actually the second time we have experienced this aspect within the last four weeks.This is another opportunity to take responsibility for our thinking structures and be really honest with ourselves.

How can we get the most from this opportunity? It’s simple: Look for the larger truth. If we can go beyond what we have always known, we could get a helpful dose of reality — and an ability to focus on long-term issues. Since Mercury is retrograde, we may want to go within and check our inner parameters: What are we really trying to accomplish? What is reality showing us?

Remember, though: Opportunities are “openings”; they aren't necessarily handed to us -- we have to "take" them and make something of them.

Do you have your Ascendent, Career Point (or any personal planets) in 0-4 degrees of Libra, Sagittarius, Aquarius or Leo? If so, you may be more aware of this opportunity. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Gemini, Virgo or Capricorn (Mercury is the ruler of Gemini and Virgo; Saturn rules Capricorn)

Tuesday late evening, a Mars/Neptune oppositionbecomes exact at 10:53pm EDT. We started to feel this aspect from last Friday evening on; it will be strong until this Sunday. This aspect asks us to find a balance between "doing" and "being". It could be a confusing time if we don't allow intuition to guide us. We may also feel de-energized at times, if we are trying to do too much.

We may not feel as organized as we think we should be; we may miss things that normally would be pretty obvious to us. We also might have a hard time expressing our anger or asserting ourselves, therefore passive-aggressive behaviors are likely to occur.

It's hard to know what we want and where we're headed under this influence, so as best as you can, go with the flow, have faith and let your heart guide you -- and have compassion for yourself and others. Also bear in mind, certain things are actually favored at this time, these include: Taking time off, working quietly, doing something primarily for the benefit of others, with no concern for personal gain.

Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in 4-11 degrees of Virgo, Pisces, Gemini or Sagittarius? If so, you will be more affected by this alignment.This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Aries or Pisces (Mars is the ruler of Aries; Neptune is the ruler of Pisces)

Wednesday: the Moon remains in fun-loving, attention-seeking Leo all day (see Tuesday early morning for details).

Mercury starts to slow down (station) today (Wednesday), as it is preparing to go direct again — after a three-week retrograde phase.

On Friday, it will stop moving altogether in almost 1 degree of Libra.Although Mercury is considered to be “direct” from Friday on,the station lasts until Oct.23rd. Until then, we’ll need to be patient with ourselves and others, especially when it comes to communication or transportation (and their associated technologies).

We might run into delays or misunderstandings, things tend to feel "off" or stagnant. It’s wise to allow extra time for getting ready and for traveling -- especially when taking public transportation or driving (For more details on Mercury Shadow Phases and Retrogrades, click here)

Some of us will feel the effects of this station more than others: those of us with Gemini or Virgo as our Sun- or Rising-Sign (Ascendant) -- and those of us with personal planets (or angles) in 0-3 degrees of Libra, Aries, Cancer or Capricorn and 29 degrees of Virgo, Pisces, Gemini or Sagittarius.

Wednesday at 5:10pm EDT, we enter a 22.5-hour Moon void of course (VoC) (it lasts until 3:50pm EDT Thursday). Use this intuitive time to express your unique spark and share your vision and personal goals with others. As always, make plans for the VoC ahead of time, or simply go with the flow while it’s going on.

Thursday: the Moon remains in fun-loving, attention-seeking Leo and VoC until 3:50pm EDT (see Tuesday early morning for details).

Thursday at 1:29pm EDT, Venus changes signs from playful, fun-loving Leo to detail-oriented, practical Virgo. She will journey through that sign until Nov. 8th. For the next three and a half weeks, our relationships are going to be put under the magnifying glass. We are more likely to want to make our relationships work in real terms.

We need to feel of service to others; we love to help, especially in a practical, down to earth kind of a way. This might also be a great time to acknowledge the people in our lives who take care of those little, daily details and make our lives easier :-)

On a social level, we might be more shy during this time -- less confident -- and most likely too busy to uphold our social commitments. On the financial side of things, we may want to invest in our health -- especially around healthy daily routines -- and anything that makes life run more smoothly on a practical level.

Do you have your Ascendant or Sun-sign inTaurusorLibra? If so, you will feel more shy and possibly busier than usual for the next 3.5 weeks. Your heart will want to be of service to others. Being healthy and having a healthy partner is important now. If you are aVirgoSun-sign or Rising-sign, you are going to have more love and beauty in your life for as long as Venus is in your sign.

Thursday at 3:50pm EDT, the Moon moves into detail-oriented, practical Virgo, where it will journey until Sunday early morning. This turns our focus toward practical activities. Solving problems, making order out of confusion, helping others: all of these bring emotional satisfaction.

Health matters might come into focus. We notice the parts that make up the whole; this is a great time to look at our daily routines (eating, work, self-care, etc.), to see if they are in alignment with our long-term goals.

Also on Thursday, Pluto resumes its normal pace through the sky, ending its station. What has come up in the last three weeks around long-term goals? How empowered or disempowered do you feel about them? Now is a good time to address anything that has been in your face...

Thursday late evening, we enter the Balsamic Moon phase: this lasts until Monday of next week, when the New Moon in Libra becomes exact (…more on that next week). We are being asked to slow down and get quiet, so we can listen to our intuition. For some of us, this might be a stretch. As best as you can: stay grounded, take a deep breath and exhale any tensions.

Rather than starting something brand-new, put all that energy into completing existing projects. This is also a great time for letting go of whatever no longer serves us. What if you could hear the voice of your inner wisdom? What might it be saying?

One last thing for Thursday, as you go through the day, do your best to bear in mind that Mercury will come to a halt tomorrow late morning (Friday); this may bring some frustrations and stagnations for the next three days around things connected to the Mercury energy (travel, transportation, communication and its devices, mail, etc.) As best as you can, go with the flow -- and leave plenty of time for travel.

Friday: the Moon remains in detail-oriented, practical Virgo all day (see Thursday afternoon for details).

Friday at 10:57am EDT, Mercury comes to a halt in almost 1 degrees of Libra, and slowly starts its direct motion, after its 3-week retrograde phase. As best as you can, go with the flow, keep an open mind and pay attention to anything that is in your face right now -- you may need to address those issues again, when Mercury moves through its shadow phase…more on that later.

We are slowly ready to shift our focus back towards the outer world again, taking in new information and sharing from a new perspective. What did you learn about your inner dialog over the past 3 weeks? How could you share your new-found inner balance in a healthy way with others? What needs to be addressed, with regards to relationships, balance and fair exchange/collaborations?

When Mercury gets back to its regular speed (by Oct.13th), communication and transportation will get back to normal; the same is true of any associated gadgets, vehicles, etc.

Some of us will feel the effects of this station more than others: those of us with Gemini or Virgo as our Sun- or Rising-Sign (Ascendant) -- and those of us with personal planets (or angles) in 0-3 degrees of Libra, Aries, Cancer or Capricorn and 29 degrees of Virgo, Pisces, Gemini or Sagittarius.

As you may recall, I mentioned Mercury shadow phases in this update a few weeks back: If you want to buy, sell or ship big-ticket items, it's best to avoid the periods shortly before and after Mercury goes retrograde. This is especially true if the items are connected to transportation (cars, plane tickets, etc.) or communication (phone, computer, iPad, etc.) This particular shadow phase ends on Oct.24th. Click here to read my blog on the subject.

On Friday at 6:12pm EDT, we enter a 34.5-hour Moon void of course (VoC); it lasts until 4:45am EDT (Sunday early morning). Use this intuitive time to gain some clarity about your long-term goals. As best as you can, focus your energy on things that you feel deeply/emotionally connected to. As this is a very long Moon VoC phase, plan the evening and following day ahead of time — if that’s not possible, I recommend you stick to routine things (or simply go with the flow ;-)

Saturday: the Moon remains in detail-oriented, practical Virgo and VoCall day (see Thursday afternoon for details).

Saturday evening, a challenging Venus/Saturn aspectbecomes exact at 8:31pm EDT. We started to feel this aspect from Wednesday on; it will be strong until next week Wednesday. Itasks us to stretch and grow beyond how we've known ourselves in our relationships up to this point -- a process of maturing that requires we adjust and stay flexible.

On the one hand, we want to improve our relationships in a very practical way, thinking our way through things in detail. On the other hand, we feel a sharp need to explore “the larger truth” about ourselves and others — to determine what beliefs align with our own direct experience. Do your best to make space for both of these urges.

We tend to be more cautious when it comes to relationships and finances now -- and in fact, this is not the best time to start a brand-new romantic relationship. Financially though, this aspect can be eye-opening; if we can find creative ways to deal with money, we will grow from it. The key is to approach things in both realms with intuition and maturity.

Pushing doesn't usually get us what we want: Sometimes, it’s better to go one step at a time; that way, we can come back later with a stronger approach and more mature expectations.

Do you have your Ascendent, Career Point (or any personal planets) in 0-5 degrees of Virgo, Sagittarius, Gemini or Pisces? If so, you will feel this aspect quite strongly. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Taurus, Libra or Capricorn (Venus is the ruler of Taurus and Libra; Saturn is the ruler of Capricorn)

Sunday at 4:45am EDT, the Moon moves into harmony-loving, balance-seeking Libra, where it will journey until Tuesday afternoon. The energy of the Libra Moon wants to maintain equal relationships: we thus tend to spend more time on diplomacy -- making compromises, negotiating, practicing graciousness, balancing, etc.

We can better set aside our emotions, to achieve the peace we desire; the shadow side of this is a tendency to avoid direct confrontations. We see both sides -- and may also fear loss of approval -- so we can't decide. As best as you can, find your inner balance with this... and communicate what needs to be said with grace and charm.

Sunday late morning, a somewhat challenging Sun/Chiron aspectbecomes exact at 9:56am EDT. We started to feel this aspect from Saturday morning on; it will be strong until Monday evening. This aspect operates more on an internal level. We feel uneasy about something, almost awkward -- and we need to make a choice. An inner awareness needs to be developed if we’re to see what needs adjusting.

Doubting ourselves and our effectiveness can subtly undermine our confidence under this influence -- and the same is true of guilt we feel for not facing important issues -- leading in turn to choppy and unnatural self-expression. As best as you can, be kind and compassionate with yourself; this will support your healing process.

Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in 17-19 degrees of Libra or Pisces? If so, you will be more affected by this aspect.This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Leo (the Sun rules of Leo)

Sunday evening, a long-term, harmonious Jupiter/Pluto aspectbecomes exact at 7:51pm EDT. We started to feel this aspect from Sept. 26th on; it will remain strong until Oct. 29th. It's an invitation tohone in on how to solve problems and get where we want to go. Our career (life path) will undergo a degree of change or transformation. We lose interest in the inessential.

It’s not hard to sell frontiers, hot prospects, expanded operations, etc. -- in fact, the soft sell will be the most successful. The more faith we have in ourselves, the more others will too, and the more likely things will work out, since everyone expects them to.

Empowerment is the key word: As best as you can, make the most of your renewed vigor and intensity by empowering yourself and others. During this aspect, we can move mountains...

Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in 10-16 degrees of Virgo, Capricorn or Taurus? If so, you will be more affected by this aspect.This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Sagittarius or Scorpio (Jupiter is the ruler of Sagittarius; Pluto rules Scorpio)

Sunday late evening, a Sun/Uranus oppositionbecomes exact at 11:49pm EDT. We started to feel this aspect from Thursday on; it will be strong until next week Wednesday. What we identify ourselves with could now be challenged: we are asked tocreate balance between our urge for personal freedom, versus our awareness of the importance of harmonious interactions with others.

This aspect is an invitation to stay open and flexible in regards to our interactions with people. We may have to make some changes or adjustments with our personal goals or within our relationships. As best as you can, be open to receiving feedback from others during this time.

If you experience fear or uncertainty, focus on what it is that you could really get excited about and get behind in a passionate way -- something that could make a difference, something meaningful. Also, take it one moment at a time, there is no need to rush anything ;-) Could you allow yourself to be uncomfortable, just for right now?

Do you have your Ascendent, Career Point (or any personal planets) in 15-22 degrees of Libra, Aries, Capricorn or Cancer? If so, you may be more affected by this aspect. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Leo or Aquarius (the Sun rules Leo; Uranus rules Aquarius).

As Sunday is also the last day before the New Moon becomes exact, this is a great day to let go of what no longer serves us. As best as you can, avoid jumping the gun: Rather than launching into brand-new endeavors or connections, wait until a couple of days have passed after the New Moon.

Some of us might feel a little anxious or nervous today: As best as you can, get quiet and go within… Listen to the silence between the sounds… Find peace in the connection with your innermost and truest Self.

A head's up for next Monday: the Moon remains in harmony-loving, balance-seeking Libra all day (see Sunday early morning for details).TheNew Moon in Libra will become exact at 8:06pm EDT, which officially ends Eclipse season.….more about all the details in next week’s forecast ;-)

Another head's up! My fees will go up after October 12th: to buy Readings or Coaching sessions before this happens, click here. Any session bought now can be used any time until April 2016!